Vipassana Meditation As Taught By S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin

S.N. Goenka - Founder

Vipassana meditation aims at the highest spiritual goals of total liberation and full enlightenment. Its purpose is never simply to cure physical disease. However, as a by-product of mental purification, many psychosomatic diseases are eradicated.

In fact, Vipassana eliminates the three causes of all unhappiness: craving, aversion and ignorance. With continued practice, the meditation releases the tensions developed in everyday life, opening the knots tied by the old habit of reacting in an unbalanced way to pleasant and unpleasant situations.

Vipassana is one of India's most ancient meditation techniques. Long lost to humanity, it was rediscovered by the Buddha more than 2500 years ago. The word Vipassanameans seeing things as they really are. It is the process of self-purification by self-observation.

One begins by observing the natural breath to concentrate the mind, which results into sharpened awareness. Then, with this sharpened awareness, one proceeds to observe the changing nature of body and mind and experiences the universal truths of impermanence, suffering and egolessness. This truth-realization by direct experience is the process of purification.

Vipassana Meditation Hall at Dhamma Pajjota - Belgium

Although Vipassana was developed as a technique by the Buddha, its practice is not limited to Buddhists. There is absolutely no question of conversion. The technique works on the simple basis that all human beings share the same problems and a technique which can eradicate these problems will have a universal application. People from many religious denominations have experienced the benefits of Vipassana meditation, and have found no conflict with their profession of faith.

The technique of Vipassana Meditation is taught at 10-day residential courses all around the world and the whole year around, during which participants learn the basics of the method, and practice sufficiently to experience its beneficial results.

According to the tradition of pure Vipassana, courses are run solely on a donation basis. There are no charges for the courses - not even to cover the cost of food and accommodation. All expenses are met by donations from people who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others the opportunity to also benefit.

Real wisdom is recognizing and accepting that every experience is impermanent. With this insight you will not be overwhelmed by life's vicissitudes. And when you retain an inner balance, you will naturally choose to act in ways that create happiness for you and for others. Living each moment with an equanimous mind, you will surely progress toward the ultimate goal of liberation from all suffering.

This is not to be believed because the Buddha said so. It is not to be believed because I say so. It is not to be believed because your intellect says so. You have to experience it yourself.

S.N. Goenka

Meditation Hall at Dhamma Pajjota - Belgium

Quotes by S.N. Goenka

First of all, don't try to change the other person. Try to change yourself. Somebody is trying to make you miserable. But you are becoming miserable because you are reacting to this. If you learn how to observe your reaction, then nobody can make you miserable. Any amount of misery from others cannot make you miserable if you learn to be equanimous deep inside. Vipassana will help you. Once you become free from misery inside, this will also start affecting others. The same person who was harming you will start changing little by little.

Far from being opposed to conversion, I am in favor of it — but not conversion from one organized religion to another. No, the conversion must be from misery to happiness. From bondage to liberation. From cruelty to compassion. From impurity of the mind to purity of the mind. That is the conversion needed today.

You start understanding the universal law, the law of nature—or, if you prefer, the law of God Almighty. This law is applicable to one and all: When I generate anger, hatred, ill will, or animosity, I am the first victim of my anger. I am the first victim of the hatred or animosity that I have generated within. First I harm myself, and only afterwards do I start harming others. This is the law of nature.

Whatever one’s religion or tradition or country, when one breaks the law of nature and generates negativity in the mind, one is bound to suffer. Nature itself provides the punishment. Those who break nature’s laws start feeling the misery of hellfire within, here and now. The seed they sow now is a seed of hellfire, and what awaits them after death is nothing but hellfire. Similarly, according to the law of nature, if I keep my mind pure, full of love and compassion, I enjoy the kingdom of heaven within here and now. The seed that I sow will have as its fruit the kingdom of heaven after death. It makes no difference whether I call myself a Hindu, a Muslim, a Christian or a Jain: a human being is a human being; the human mind is the human mind.

When you have attachment, then you don't have love, you only love yourself, because you expect something -material, emotional etc - from this person. With whomever you have attachment, you are expecting something in return. When you start truly loving this person, then you only give, a one-way traffic. You don't expect anything in return, then the attachment goes. The tension goes. You are so happy.

To me it seems that if we want peace in human society, we cannot ignore individuals. If there is no peace in the mind of the individual, I do not understand how there can be real peace in the world. If I have an agitated mind, always full of anger, hatred, ill will and animosity, how can I give peace to the world? I cannot because I have no peace myself. Enlightened persons have therefore said, "First find peace within yourself." One has to examine whether there is really peace within oneself. All the sages, saints, and seers of the world have advised, "Know thyself."

There is nothing wrong in wanting material things, provided you do not become attached to it. Whatever necessities you require, work to get them. If you fail to get something, then smile and try again in a different way. If you succeed, then enjoy what you get, but without attachment.

If somebody dies, no crying. Crying doesn't solve any problem. All those moments when you have been crying you are sowing seeds of crying. Nature wouldn't see why you are crying, nature only sees what seed you have sowed and the seed of crying will only bring more crying...

Just as we use physical exercises to improve our bodily health, Vipassana can be used to develop a healthy mind.

Work diligently, ardently, patiently, and persistently. You are bound to be successful, bound to be successful.